Disney, GM renew agreement, Test Track to get makeover

Walt Disney World and General Motors said Friday they have renewed a longstanding sponsorship agreement, extending a deal that once seemed in doubt amid the giant automaker's bankruptcy.

As part of the new pact, Disney and GM will redesign Test Track, a marquee attraction at Epcot. The attraction will close in April and reopen with a theme focused on the GM brand Chevrolet in the fall. The attraction also will get a "Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot" in which guests will get to design their own custom concept vehicles.

Financial terms weren't disclosed. GM paid Disney $100 million for its previous 10-year sponsorship contract, according to a person familiar with the details. That contract lapsed into 2009, and the two parties had been extending it by short-term intervals in the interim.

"We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors," George Aguel, senior vice president of corporate alliances for the Walt Disney Co., said in a prepared statement. "This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways."